Rio Ferdinand: On the verge of retirement?

The sight of a young Gareth Bale running all over the 34-year-old must have a brought a tinge of sadness in the minds of the United supporters. Have this United great’s days of playing for the Red Devils coming to an end?

Ever since the £30?million signing from Leeds United came into the United fold, he has sealed his place in the heart of the United defence and in the hearts of United supporters. He, along with Nemanja Vidic, went on to become one half of the best defensive partnerships in the Premier League or maybe even Europe. His calm , composed self along with Nemanja Vidic’s reliance led to United being one the strongest defensive side for a number of years which has seen them win the Premiership and the Champions League.

Alex Ferguson seems to be of the opinion that Ferdinand has the body and skills to go on playing into his late thirties. But Ferdinand seems to be analyzing his performance and is making no hasty decisions.

” It is always good to hear the manager say things like that,” Ferdinand told Inside United. “But you have to take every week and month as it comes. The best thing I can do is to look at it at Christmas, and then again in the summer, to see how I’m feeling and go from there. But hearing the manager say things like that definitely puts the spring back in your step.”

There have been rumours linking him to West Ham United, with Sam Allardyce welcoming Ferdinand back to his childhood club. But this is the first time Ferdinand has raised a prospect of retirement.

When he was 11 years old, a youth coach, David Goodwin, remarked “I’m going to call you Pelé, son, I like the way you play.” He didn’t go on to become a great striker like Pele, but he did become one of the best defenders England has ever seen. His calm, composed style of play along with the degree of perfection he demands from his fellow defenders, Ferdinand will widely be regarded as a role model for young footballers.

If he decides to retire or decides to move onto other clubs, it would come as a shock to many of his supporters. Watching Manchester United play would never be the same without this guy in the centre of the Manchester defence. Almost every Ferdinand and United fan would wish he would continue to play for a few more years and then retire as a Red Devil. Here is hoping he does so and go on to become another United legend, not that he is not one already.